Chemical, Physical and Biological Treatments of Pineapple Leaf Fibres

Abstract

Pineapple leaves are known as organic wastes that left behind after pineapple fruit have been harvested. In Malaysia, waste management of these leaves is improving time to time, whereby the leaves are collected and consigned for research and industry utilization. Based on studies, pineapple leaf contains an amount of 2.5–3.5% of fibres that layered by hydrophobic waxy substances. The fibres of pineapple leaf (PALF) are extracted and beneficial in textile industry since eighteenth century. In order to optimised the usage of the PALF in high technology application which not only in textile industry, thus, numerous chemicals, physicals and biological or even combination of fibre treatments are applied by researchers and industrial players. For instance, the PALF is recognized as suitable candidates as reinforcing agent in polymeric matrices due to its high specific strength and sustainability. It is proved that attributable to inexpensive, abundant and good mechanical strength obtained by controlling the treatment methods has positioned the PALF as popular fibres in the development of functionalized smart and intelligent products.